Local Veterans
By Kyle KirbyAt the Hickory Aviation Museum, Veterans are always special guests. A few of our local veterans are regular visitors on the first Saturday of every month (or any other Saturday or Sunday, by that matter).
Recently we had visitor Ray Haag from California who was in visiting his son. Ray served 25 years in the USAF. He had time in over 25 different aircraft types!! Of interest he related a story to me of flying EC-121 Connies out of Korat, Thailand during Vietnam. He said that the electronic systems got so hot that the crews would fly at around 11,000 ft to keep above groundfire and under pressurization levels. They would peel off their shirts, open the windows,and roll their flight suits down to beat the severe heat. Later in the war when most POWs were executed they would orbit over a lake in Cambodia where if they had to get out they wouldn't be captured and executed. He also spent time with NORAD in Alaska where he was over radar systems. With Gen. Boswell on board they pioneered intercepts of Tu-16 Badger aircraft with F-102 Delta Daggars!!! He also remembered he was scared when seeing AiR-2 Genie nuclear missiles loaded aboard F-106 Delta Darts at McChord AFB during the Cuban Missile Crisis!! What a great guest!! He came in while Roger Clements was there and it was magical listening to them converse!!
We had a unique visitor Saturday Aug. 16. Roger Clements came all the way from Advance, NC to visit the museum. His first act was to hand me a Zippo lighter with VMF-235 emblazoned on it!! I turned it over to see a FJ Fury and the squadron logo on it!!! Yes, he was in the squadron prior to OUR FJ-3M's days!!! He ran the engine shop for two years on FJ-2s with the J-47-2 engine!!! It was a lightweight version to compensate for the Fury's heavier weight over the F-86. He entered the USMC in 1946 and got his start as a Plane Captain with VMF-322 at Midway in 1947. He was basically a GRUNT when he and a couple of other guys were picked at random to become aircraft gurus. In 30 minutes time he literally went from S-1 to the cockpit of a F4U-4 and got a quick indoctrination including full run-up of the R-2800 and was told to report the next day!!!! He asked a few other Plane Captains a few questions the next day and prepared his new steed for flight. A Marine pilot arrived and off he went!!! Talk about on the job training!!! In Dec 1949 he went to VMF-115 who had brand new F9F-2 Panther jets. They were the first Marine jet squadron and the first to qualify jets on a carrier...the FDR. His tour with 115 include Korea. After that, he went to El Toro with VMF(N)-542 who had F7F Tigercats and F3D Skyknights!!! After this his tour included VMF-235 as well as a stint with quality control for MAG-33 in HNMS-3. After leaving the Corps in 1966 he found himself on Century Blvd in LA looking for a job. He went to the 7th floor to General Electric with his resume and was kindly turned down. After this he went to the 5th floor at Pratt and Whitney where he did the same. After a 45 minute wait he was ready to leave when he was suddenly hired on. Highlights include flight testing of the Army U-21 at Edwards AFB. Also went to Vietnam in Jan 1968 as tech rep on U-21. There were 5 0 U-21s deployed there. He actually was in on a wheels up landing at Cam Ranh Bay Army (a PSP strip at the base) with 12 aboard including a Colonel. The two Capt's up front were so intent on a great landing for the Col. that they forgot to lower the gear!!!! He also was involved in a R4D/F-8 middair that resulted in no losses. It is just fantastic when we get such special guests!!! Roger donated the Zippo as well as a couple of pics from the FJ-2 days in VMF-235. Also of interest was the fact that VMF-322 was based at Edenton, NC at one time!!! Roger...thanks for everything and please come back to see us. Also of interest, his son is at Pratt and Whitney as well as his grandson who is an apprentice there......Semper Fi
Here is Warren Shook!! Humanitarian, friend, and unbelievable witness to history!!! Warren was a paratrooper with the 101st 502nd PIR I company in WW II. He was in the first three planes that flew over DDAY on the Eurpean Continent. He was in the left C-47 in the FIRST wave!!! His aircraft was hit and the aircrew were killed. They jumped at 300 feet at over 225mph as the a/c began to crash!!!! Warren went through a small tree as his parachute opened. He landed flat on his back and bounced a time or two!!! The mines strapped to his shins and canteen were ripped from his body in the ensuing violent landing. Upon landing, he saw tracers flashing 8 inches in front of his face. He took out the machine gun nest moments later and continued fighting. On June 11th they came to Carentan. Warren single-handedly wiped out two German companies with his trusty Thompson under the direction of Lt. Col. Robert Cole and was later wounded on Purple Heart Lane. He was placed on a sretcher and fell asleep. He awoke at a hospital in Great Britain!!! He estimates he had one hour sleep in the five days prior to his injury!!!! After healing he rejoined his troops and saw Marketgarden, survived the Battle of the Bulge at Bastogne, and overran concentration camps. He finally wound up at the Eagle's Nest and searching for SS troops hidng in the woods. If you have seen Band of Brothers, then you have witnessed through film what Warren actually experienced!! After Carentan, Cole literally walked Warren directly up to Ike and personally recommended him for the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions!!! Cole won it for Carentan after he was killed in Holland. Warren may be the most decorated soldier in NC or the whole Southeast!!! He is nothing short of awesome and is a national treasure. Nowadays at age 85, he takes care of 70 something people in Lenoir. If you see this man grace our facility, PLEASE talk to him and let him know you appreciate him. He was a Special Forces machine and expert on all of their weapons. It is a miracle he is still here to share his amazing story with us. The amazing thing is his humility which most warriors share that have been at the VERY TIP OF THE SPEAR!!! I can only imagine all of the things this man has seen!!! Ever wonder why we are the greatest nation ever? Look in his eyes in this photograph and you'll see it!!!!!!!
Bob Morgan...ATC pilot with 2 'hump' missions. Over 37,000 flight hours in virtually EVERYTHING!!!
Don Lewis.
Flew right seat in many USAF types and went over to the Army, flying virtually everything in their inventory. Don has donated many items to the museum.
Pete Lail and brother Bus.
Pete was on a LST at D-Day and continued up to the end of the war all over the European coast. He is our comedian and is a hoot!! Bus risked life and limb in the Merchant Marine as well.
Bill Brown
Went throught boot camp and ship school with Pete Lail. Also on LST at D-Day and after. Bill has been a dear friend for a long time and helps me call the vets to remind them of our 'gatherings'.
George Shade
The only Tuskeegee Airman from western NC. George is always great and is here any time he can come out
Art Sulteen
P-47 and P-51 driver. Art has become a great friend as well as his family members who bring him out everytime we do something. His enthusiasm is fantastic. We call him Rooster because he looks so much like John Wayne!! When he wears his eyepatch he is a natural for Rooster Cogburn
If you are a veteran, or know someone who would like to join the Saturday crowd, please accept our invitation to join us on the first Saturday of each month, starting at around 11:00am.
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